Written questions by Wild.

How many additional staff will be required in September 2024 for the expanded childcare offer.

The department knows that to deliver the expanded early years entitlements, the sector will need additional staff. In total, the department estimated that compared to 2023, the new entitlements will create an increased need for workers in the region of 9,000 in September 2024. In 2023, the number of staff increased by 12,900 (4%), from 334,400 in 2022, to 347,300 in 2023. This was before the department introduced interventions to support the growth of the workforce.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of decoupling electricity from wholesale gas prices.

Our mission is for clean power by 2030 because this is the best way to achieve energy independence and protect billpayers. New, clean renewable energy will reduce our exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. As part of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) programme, the Government is considering what further steps can be taken to shield consumers from the impacts of potential price spikes and to ensure they benefit from lower cost renewable energy.

With reference to the Answer of 19 December 2023 to Question 1258 on Hospitals: Concrete, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Mott MacDonald report on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

As my rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced, and as subsequently confirmed in the Chancellor’s statement on 29 July 2024, there is a full and comprehensive ongoing review of the New Hospital Programme to provide a realistic and costed timetable for delivery. This will consider the urgent need to rebuild the seven hospitals built mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) to protect staff and patient safety.The Secretary of State will consider the findings and update Parliament on the outcome of the review reporting back to patients, clinicians, and local communities on the next steps for the New Hospital Programme. We will provide a clear and realistic timetable for delivery of the Programme and agree the investment needed to get patients the care they deserve.

What estimate she has made of the annual cost of providing free breakfast clubs in all primary schools.

The government is committed to making quick progress on delivering breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity, by providing a supportive start to the day, ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and ready to achieve. The department has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school in England will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with the sector to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.

What her planned timetable is to roll out free breakfast clubs to all primary schools.

The government is committed to making quick progress on delivering breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity, by providing a supportive start to the day, ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and ready to achieve. The department has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school in England will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with the sector to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.

Whether she plans to approve the business case for the A10 West Winch Housing Access Road.

I thank the Honorable Member for his continued support for the scheme. Officials are working closely with Norfolk County Council on the outline business case submitted to the Department. When they have completed their assessment, they will put advice to Ministers.

What her policy is on the future of the Behaviour Hubs programme.

Delivery of the Behaviour Hubs will run until the end of March 2025. Funding beyond the end of March 2025 is subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.

If he will publish the reference design for Hospital 2.0.

The Secretary of State has asked for an urgent review on the New Hospital Programme, including on the degree to which the New Hospital Programme is funded and a realistic timetable for delivery.The New Hospital Programme is continuing to develop its standardised design approach for future hospitals, known as Hospital 2.0. Design products for Hospital 2.0 are being developed and refined and are being shared with trusts as soon as possible and on an ongoing basis.

What estimate she has made of the proportion of state schools which teach the national curriculum.

Maintained schools in England are legally required to follow the National Curriculum up to age 16, but academies, including free schools, are not. The department does not hold data on the proportion of academies currently following the National Curriculum, but knows that many choose to teach it. As part of the legislative programme announced in the King’s Speech, the department intends to legislate to require academies to teach the National Curriculum, once changes are made following the Curriculum and Assessment Review. This will give parents certainty over their children’s education, and it will give academies time to prepare. The department will discuss with the sector the practicalities of implementing this change. The review will recommend a core curriculum that is designed to empower, not restrict, academies and other schools. It will support the innovation and professionalism of teachers, whether in academies or maintained schools, and will enable them to adapt how they teach the curriculum to their students’ lives and life experiences.

Whether it is his policy to build a new Queen Elizabeth hospital in King’s Lynn by 2030.

The National Health Service is broken, and the Government is determined to fix it. We recognise the need for investment in NHS estates across the country, including at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, where there is reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. We will provide the investment and reform needed to get patients the care they deserve.My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has asked for an urgent report on the degree to which the New Hospital Programme is funded, and a realistic timetable for delivery. He will consider this carefully then report back to patients, clinicians, and local communities to confirm any possible revisions to the schedule.

What plans he has to improve access to NHS dentistry in North West Norfolk constituency.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges patients face when trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments, and to recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and retention of NHS dentists.The Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board has been working with 23 dental practices to introduce a new Urgent Treatment Service, which is now treating 1,800 people per month, and will be investing in Child Focused Dental Practices to offer treatment to vulnerable children and young people.

Whether his Department plans to provide funding to Network Rail for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement proposals.

Both the Rail Minister and I are early in our tenure as Transport Ministers. As such, he is yet to speak to Network Rail regarding the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement. However, we do recognise the benefits the scheme could bring for freight and passenger rail services in East Anglia. The Department looks forward to discussing these proposals with Network Rail, and other stakeholders, in the near future.

How much funding his Department has allocated to the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board for the commissioning of NHS dental services in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board’s dental ringfence for 2024/25 is £64,780,000.